TWI869721B - Connector - Google Patents

Abstract

A connector includes a base, a latch, and a first axle element. The latch is disposed on the base. The latch includes a main portion, a front-left arm, a front-right arm, a back-left arm, and a back-right arm, wherein each of the front end of the front-left arm and the front end of the front-right arm has a hook, and each of the back-left arm and the back-right arm has a hole. The first axle element is pivoted to the hole of the back-left arm and the base. The back-left arm of the latch is located along the lengthwise direction of the front-left arm, and the back-left arm and the front-left arm are connected by a straight structure.

Description

Connectors

The present disclosure relates to a connector, more specifically, a connector including a spring.

It is a known skill to set springs on the high-speed line-end connectors (such as MCIO, NEARSTACK, MINISAS, etc.) inside the server to engage with the board-end connectors.

Taking the wire-end connector of US No. 10,547,142 as an example, the spring can be provided with two fixing arms with hooks on the left and right sides respectively. When in use, the hook at the end of the spring will be engaged and fixed with the outer shell perforation of the board-end connector. When the wire-end connector and the board-end connector need to be released from each other, the spring will be pulled by the pull belt, causing the hook at the end of the spring to sink and detach from the outer shell perforation of the board-end connector.

However, if the user does not use the drawstring correctly and directly pulls the cable, the elastic sheet has not yet sunk, and the central part of the elastic sheet will be stressed, causing plastic deformation and the risk of failure.

In view of this, one purpose of the present disclosure is to propose a connector that can solve the above problems.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned purpose, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, a connector includes a base, a spring and a first shaft. The spring is fixed on the base and has a certain degree of elastic deformation. The spring includes a main body, a left forearm, a right forearm, a left rear arm and a right rear arm, wherein the front end of the left forearm and the front end of the right forearm are each provided with a barb, and the left rear arm and the right rear arm are each provided with a hole. The first shaft is pivoted to the hole of the left rear arm and the base. The left rear arm of the spring is located in the length direction of the left forearm, and the left rear arm is connected to the left forearm via a straight structure.

In some embodiments, the left front arm and the left rear arm of the above-mentioned spring are aligned and arranged in a straight line.

In some embodiments, the axis of the first shaft is perpendicular to the straight line.

In some embodiments, the base has a groove, and the first shaft is located in the groove.

In some embodiments, the connector further includes a second shaft. The second shaft is pivotally connected to the hole and base of the right rear arm.

In some embodiments, the right front arm and the right rear arm of the above-mentioned spring are aligned and arranged in a straight line.

In some embodiments, the axis of the second shaft is perpendicular to the straight line.

In some embodiments, the base has a groove, and the second shaft is located in the groove.

In some embodiments, the connector further includes a drawstring. One end of the drawstring is connected to the base, and the end of the drawstring is located between the left rear arm and the right rear arm of the spring.

In some embodiments, the length direction of the drawstring is perpendicular to the axial direction of the first shaft.

In summary, in the above-mentioned embodiment of the present disclosure, since the connector includes an elastic sheet and a first shaft, and the first shaft is pivoted to the hole of the left rear arm of the elastic sheet and the base, when the connector is removed from the docking connector (such as a board-end connector) by force, the force on the elastic sheet will be transmitted from the hook of the left front arm engaged with the docking connector through the left rear arm to the first shaft. Such a configuration can avoid the force being transmitted to the central part of the elastic sheet, avoid deformation and damage of the elastic sheet, and extend the service life of the connector. In addition, the left rear arm and left front arm of the elastic sheet can transmit the force to the first shaft, so there is no need to have a structure that turns to the base, which is conducive to the flat design of the base.

100: Connector

110: Base

112a,112b: groove

120: Shrapnel

122: Main body

124a: Left forearm

124b: Right forearm

125a,125b,125c,125d: inverted hook

126a: Left rear arm

126b: Right rear arm

127: Straight structure

130a: First shaft

130b: Second shaft

140: drawstring

150: Circuit board

200: Docking connector

202: Open mouth

C: Cable

D1: Length direction

D2: Axial

L1,L2: Straight line

O1,O2: hole

The disclosure is best understood from the following embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying illustrations. It is noted that the various features are accurately drawn in true proportion according to standard practice in the industry, and the proportions, relative relationships, and other details of the components should be considered part of the disclosure.

Figure 1 shows a three-dimensional diagram of a connector according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure 2 shows a three-dimensional view of the spring of the connector in Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a partial enlarged view of the connector in Figure 1.

Figure 4 shows a partial enlarged view of the shrapnel in Figure 2.

Figure 5 shows a side view of the connector in Figure 1 coupled with the mating connector.

The embodiments disclosed below provide many different embodiments, or examples, for implementing different features of the subject matter provided. Specific examples of components and arrangements are described below to simplify the present invention. Of course, such examples are merely examples and are not intended to be limiting. In addition, the present invention may repeat component symbols and/or letters in various examples. This repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and does not in itself specify the relationship between the various embodiments and/or configurations discussed.

Spatially relative terms such as "below", "under", "lower", "above", "upper", etc. may be used herein for descriptive purposes to describe the relationship of one element or feature to another element or feature as shown in the accompanying figures. Spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation other than the orientation shown in the accompanying figures. The device may be oriented in other ways (rotated 90 degrees or in other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein may be interpreted accordingly.

FIG. 1 shows a three-dimensional view of a connector 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 shows a three-dimensional view of a spring 120 of the connector 100 of FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the connector 100 includes a base 110, a spring 120, and a first shaft 130a. The connector 100 may be a line-end connector for high-speed and high-frequency connection, such as a line-end connector for a server. The base 110 may be an insulator, and its material may be, for example, plastic, which may provide support.

The spring sheet 120 includes a main body 122, a left front arm 124a, a right front arm 124b, a left rear arm 126a and a right rear arm 126b. The front end of the left front arm 124a is provided with a barb 125a, and the front end of the right front arm 124b is provided with a barb 125b. In addition, the left rear arm 126a is provided with a hole O1, and the right rear arm 126b is provided with a hole O2. The holes O1 and O2 are perforated holes, respectively, and the entire spring sheet 120 is formed by stamping or bending a single sheet of metal material.

In some embodiments, the left forearm 124a and the right forearm 124b can be symmetrically arranged relative to the main body 122, and the left rear arm 126a and the right rear arm 126b can also be symmetrically arranged relative to the main body 122. The first shaft 130a is cylindrical and can be pivoted.

In some embodiments, the connector 100 further includes a drawstring 140. The drawstring 140 has a length direction D1. The drawstring 140 may have different widths, and the width of the drawstring 140 away from the base 110 may be greater than the width of the drawstring 140 close to the base 110 to facilitate user operation, such as applying a pulling force to the drawstring 140 to separate the connector 100 from the docking connector. One end of the drawstring 140 is connected to the base 110, and the end of the drawstring 140 connected to the base 110 may be located between the left rear arm 126a and the right rear arm 126b of the spring 120.

In addition, the connector 100 also includes a circuit board 150 and a cable C. The cable C can transmit high-frequency signals. The cable C is electrically connected to the circuit board 150, and the circuit board 150 can be electrically connected to another mating connector.

FIG. 3 shows a partial enlarged view of the connector 100 of FIG. 1. FIG. 4 shows a partial enlarged view of the spring 120 of FIG. 2. Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 simultaneously, the spring 120 is fixedly mounted on the base 110. The first shaft 130a is pivoted to the hole O1 of the left rear arm 126a of the spring 120 and the base 110. In this embodiment, the first shaft 130a can pass through the hole O1 of the left rear arm 126a and is covered and positioned by a portion of the base 110. In addition, the left rear arm 126a is located in the length direction D1 of the left front arm 124a, and the left rear arm 126a and the left front arm 124a of the spring 120 are connected via a straight structure 127 extending along the length direction D1. In this example, the so-called straight structure 127 is a vertical wall that has not been bent to maximize the force required to deform it when transmitting stress. More specifically, the vertical wall does not include a folded structure bent along the axial direction D2, nor does it include a folded structure bent along the height direction. The aforementioned height direction is perpendicular to both the length direction D1 and the axial direction D2.

In other words, the spring 120 is in a straight line from the left rear arm 126a to the left front arm 124a in the length direction D1, that is, there is no other folding structure between the left rear arm 126a and the left front arm 124a and it is roughly in a straight line, and there is no part deformed toward the base 110, so that the bottom surface of the left rear arm 126a to the bottom surface of the left front arm 124a is a continuous plane.

Specifically, since the connector 100 includes the spring 120 and the first shaft 130a, and the first shaft 130a is pivoted to the hole O1 of the left rear arm 126a of the spring 120 and the base 110, when the connector 100 is removed from the docking connector (such as a board-end connector), the force on the spring 120 is transmitted from the barb 125a engaged with the left front arm 124a of the docking connector through the left rear arm 126a to the first shaft 130a. Such a configuration can prevent the force from being transmitted to the central part (such as the main body 122) of the spring 120, prevent the spring 120 from being deformed and damaged, and extend the service life of the connector 100. In addition, the left front arm 124a and the left rear arm 126a of the spring 120 can transmit force to the first shaft 130a, so there is no need to have a structure that turns toward the base 110, which is beneficial to the flat design of the base 110.

In this embodiment, the base 110 may also have a groove 112a. The groove 112a is elongated and extends along the axis D2 of the first shaft 130a. The first shaft 130a is located in the groove 112a, so that the first shaft 130a can be positioned in the base 110. In addition, the length direction D1 of the pull belt 140 in Figure 1 can be perpendicular to the axis D2 of the first shaft 130a. Such a design can ensure that the force received by the pull belt 140 along the length direction D1 is transmitted to the first shaft 130a and the base 110, avoiding the spring 120 from being twisted and deformed, thereby extending the service life.

Returning to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the connector 100 further includes a second shaft 130b. The appearance of the second shaft 130b is similar to that of the first shaft 130a. The second shaft 130b is pivoted to the hole O2 of the right rear arm 126b of the spring 120 and the base 110. In this embodiment, the second shaft 130b can pass through the hole O2 of the right rear arm 126b and is covered and positioned by a portion of the base 110. In addition, the base 110 can also have a groove 112b. The groove 112b is elongated and extends along the axial direction of the second shaft 130b (the same as the axial direction D2 of the first shaft 130a in FIG. 3). The second shaft 130b is located in the groove 112b, so that the second shaft 130b can be positioned in the base 110. The second shaft 130b can be arranged symmetrically with the first shaft 130a, and the groove 112b can be arranged symmetrically with the groove 112a.

The configuration and function of the right front arm 124b and the right rear arm 126b of the elastic sheet 120, the second shaft 130b and the groove 112b of the base 110 are similar to the configuration and function of the left front arm 124a and the left rear arm 126a of the elastic sheet 120, the first shaft 130a and the groove 112a of the base 110, and will not be repeated.

It should be understood that the connection relationship, materials and functions of the components that have been described will not be repeated, and will be described first. In the following description, the state of the connector 100 when in use will be described.

FIG. 5 shows a side view of the connector 100 of FIG. 1 coupled with the docking connector 200. Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 5 at the same time, the docking connector 200 may be a board-end connector, but this is not intended to limit the present disclosure. When the connector 100 is coupled with the docking connector 200, the barb 125a of the left forearm 124a of the spring 120 of the connector 100 may be engaged in the opening 202 of the docking connector 200, so that the connector 100 is positioned on the docking connector 200, and the circuit board 150 (see FIG. 1) of the connector 100 is electrically connected to the docking connector 200.

In this embodiment, the left front arm 124a and the left rear arm 126a of the spring sheet 120 of the connector 100 are aligned and arranged on the straight line L1. The intersection of the first shaft 130a and the left rear arm 126a of the spring sheet 120 is located on the straight line L1, which can effectively transmit force to the first shaft 130a when the pull strap 140 in FIG. 1 is pulled in the length direction D1, thereby preventing the spring sheet 120 from deformation and damage and extending its service life. In addition, in this embodiment, the axis D2 of the first shaft 130a can be perpendicular to the straight line L1, which can further ensure that the base 110 is only subjected to an upward force (the length direction D1 of the pull strap 140), and the hook 125a of the left forearm 124a of the spring 120 can be separated from the opening 202 of the docking connector 200 with less effort, thereby separating the connector 100 from the docking connector 200.

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 at the same time, similarly, the right front arm 124b and the right rear arm 126b of the spring sheet 120 are aligned and arranged on the straight line L2. The intersection of the second shaft 130b and the right rear arm 126b of the spring sheet 120 is located on the straight line L2, which can effectively transmit the force to the second shaft 130b when the pull strap 140 is pulled in the length direction D1, thereby preventing the spring sheet 120 from deformation and damage and extending its service life. In addition, in this embodiment, the axis of the second shaft 130b is perpendicular to the straight line L2, which can further ensure that the base 110 is only subjected to an upward force (the length direction D1 of the pull strap 140), and the hook 125b of the right forearm 124b of the spring 120 can be disengaged from the other opening of the docking connector 200 (see Figure 5) with less effort, thereby separating the connector 100 from the docking connector 200.

In some embodiments, the left forearm 124a and the right forearm 124b of the spring sheet 120 of the connector 100 may also have a plurality of parallel and integrally bent barbs 125a, 125c and barbs 125b, 125d. The barb 125c located on the inner side is parallel to the barb 125a located on the outer side (e.g., parallel to each other). The barb 125d of the right forearm 124b is parallel to the barb 125b and closer to the inner side. The barbs 125c and 125d are closer to the inner side than the barbs 125a and 125b. With this configuration, when the connector 100 is coupled with the docking connector 200 in FIG. 5, the hooks 125a and 125c of the left forearm 124a of the spring 120 can be simultaneously engaged in the opening 202 of the docking connector 200, and the hooks 125b and 125d of the right forearm 124b can also be simultaneously engaged in the other opening of the docking connector 200, thereby improving the feel and stability of the connection.

The foregoing outlines the features of several implementations so that those skilled in the art can better understand the state of the present disclosure. Those skilled in the art should understand that they can easily use the present disclosure as a basis for designing or modifying other processes and structures to achieve the same purpose and/or achieve the same advantages as the implementations described herein. Those skilled in the art should also recognize that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, and that they can make various changes, substitutions and modifications here without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

100: Connector

110: Base

112a: Groove

120: Shrapnel

122: Main body

124a: Left forearm

125a: Inverted hook

126a: Left rear arm

130a: First shaft

C: Cable

D2: Axial

Claims (10)

A connector includes: a base; a spring plate disposed on the base, the spring plate includes a main body, a left forearm, a right forearm, a left rear arm and a right rear arm, wherein the front end of the left forearm and the front end of the right forearm are each provided with a hook, and the left rear arm and the right rear arm are each provided with a hole; and a first shaft member pivotally connected to the hole of the left rear arm and the base; wherein the left rear arm is located in a length direction of the left forearm, and the left rear arm is connected to the left forearm via a straight structure, and the straight structure protrudes from the main body in the direction of the same vertical plane. A connector as described in claim 1, wherein the left front arm and the left rear arm of the spring are aligned and arranged in a straight line. A connector as described in claim 2, wherein the axis of the first shaft is perpendicular to the straight line. A connector as described in claim 1, wherein the base has a groove and the first shaft is located in the groove. The connector as described in claim 1 further includes: a second shaft pivotally connected to the hole of the right rear arm and the base. A connector as described in claim 5, wherein the right front arm and the right rear arm of the spring are aligned and arranged in a straight line. A connector as described in claim 6, wherein the axis of the second shaft is perpendicular to the straight line. A connector as described in claim 5, wherein the base has a groove and the second shaft is located in the groove. The connector as described in claim 1 further includes: a drawstring, one end of which is connected to the base, and the end of the drawstring is located between the left rear arm and the right rear arm of the spring. A connector as described in claim 9, wherein the length direction of the drawstring is perpendicular to the axial direction of the first shaft.

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